Alex Caruso Can't be Overlooked in OKC Thunder Starting Lineup Decision

The Thunder's fan favorite defender could be a legitimate option for Mark Daigneault's starting five.

May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) reacts after a basket during the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Oklahoma City’s starting lineup has been a hot topic all offseason, and the Thunder’s solution could end up being a surprise. 

Over the past few weeks, the Thunder’s offseason has settled down, and the team appears set for next season. While they still have some flexibility with their open roster spot, the Thunder don’t appear in any rush to add a 15th player to their standard roster.

That’s left the starting lineup to be arguably the biggest question mark of the offseason. With longtime starter Lu Dort now in Atlanta, the Thunder’s fifth starting spot has drawn plenty of attention, especially considering Mark Daigneault has a history of both setting a standard starting five and throwing different lineups out at tipoff from game to game.

Thus far, Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell have been the most popular names to be Dort’s replacement in the first five, with Jared McCain occasionally being thrown out as a dark horse after earning a starting spot for multiple games in the conference finals. However, there may also be a case for Oklahoma City to put Alex Caruso in that spot moving forward.

Mostly an overlooked piece of the Thunder’s regular season success, Caruso has been best known for his playoff performances and his ability to rise when the pressure is at its highest. Also considering his rather small regular season role over the past couple of years, it makes sense that he’s been overlooked in the starting lineup discussion, but that role could be exactly what makes him the perfect fit.

Across two seasons with the Thunder, Caruso has played in 110 games and averaged 18.7 minutes a night. Starting just three times in that span, Caruso has been a staple of Oklahoma City’s second unit, even as injuries have piled up at different points across his tenure.

While it doesn’t necessarily make sense for him to take on the role of Dort’s 26.8 minutes per game from last season, starting Caruso and allowing him to take on the assignment of the top offensive player on the other side could help Oklahoma City get out to some fast starts.

From there, the rest of the Thunder’s rotation could remain mostly unchanged, with slight increases in minutes for Mitchell, Wallace and McCain after the offseason departures. Although Wallace would be a seamless fit after starting so many times the past couple of seasons, Caruso in the starting five could be a perfect way to prepare for the postseason.

Each year, Caruso’s load increases in the postseason, and allowing him to start games could make it easier on Daigneault to naturally boost his minutes once April rolls around. In any case, the Thunder can’t really go wrong with who they put in the starting five, and Caruso simply represents another option for a still-deep Thunder squad.